Clarke Instant Garage experience

[JOEPRO]

I have too many car projects and one got started outside on Jack stands earlier this year as MOT prep then developed into a full underbody restoration.

Therefore the car was immobile and progress with the constant rain was impossible.

Desperate for some form of shelter to keep working on the car I took a chance on ordering a new large Clarke instant garage about 3 months ago.

I put it up myself on a Saturday and chemical anchored each leg down into the old hard tarmac.

Great job actually it is 100% rain tight from above of course but it is prone to condensation inside. Hence I have a dehumidifier running inside it which does provide a dry bright workshop for keeping the project going in winter! No affiliation with Clarke at all by the way just sharing what ended up being better than I expected! It will be taken down each summer but will be a shelter for a car each winter period.



I got a couple of sealed LED lights and switch and wired that so it can come down with the garage to put away.

Unfortunately I didn't have the foresight to wash the old girl before I erected this garage around it! Oops.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Handy things. Mine was great until the knob head neighbour cut the little pockets you put the cross bars through one night. Only realised when a storm came in and discovered the flapping sound was the tarp peeling itself off and smacking the roof of the house

 

[Danez]

Handy things. Mine was great until the knob head neighbour cut the little pockets you put the cross bars through one night. Only realised when a storm came in and discovered the flapping sound was the tarp peeling itself off and smacking the roof of the house

why on earth did they do that?

 

[JOEPRO]

Handy things. Mine was great until the knob head neighbour cut the little pockets you put the cross bars through one night. Only realised when a storm came in and discovered the flapping sound was the tarp peeling itself off and smacking the roof of the house

What makes you think your neighbour did that? Were they all cut with a knife!? Crazy stuff.

No one has access to mine so should be OK! It has been battered with strong wind but doesn't appear to have any immediate effect anyway. The covers have part numbers and each can be ordered separately.

 

[optima21]

here's the story of mine

Clarke temporary garage assembly

I got one of these in February of this year as I decided that I needed more space to rebuild parts (including a new bonnet) for my Triumph Herald. I ended up getting the smallest size with a machine mart vat free discount...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

it got replaced by a gala tent, but there are a few things that Im not happy with about them, twice the price, but not twice the quality

 

[JOEPRO]

here's the story of mine

Clarke temporary garage assembly

I got one of these in February of this year as I decided that I needed more space to rebuild parts (including a new bonnet) for my Triumph Herald. I ended up getting the smallest size with a machine mart vat free discount...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

it got replaced by a gala tent, but there are a few things that Im not happy with about them, twice the price, but not twice the quality

There is always a danger wind will do them in! My location is at the top of a hill but the garage is around back and well sheltered by tall hedges etc. I don't think wind really gets a proper run at it, certainly not directly underneath. I have clear tarps on my carport this 5 years or so and they have survived at my house so I think with this frame well bolted down it hopefully will last a
Few years before it needs new covers

 

[Robotstar5]

I put one up at the stables about 9 years ago and it's lasted well in the constant winds we seem to get there, the back panel started to get a few small holes a couple of years ago so I just replaced that panel as the rest is fine.

 

[JOEPRO]

I am also thinking of putting large ground brackets at 2 or 3 portals and lash a ratchet strap around the frame inside. This should make it super solid and the frame would not be able to lift at all. It shouldn't now as each leg is bolted down but I worry the push botton connections in parts of the tubular frame could detach in severe wind.

A few straps lashed over them would make that impossible to come undone and give even more anchorage to the ground.

 

[Robotstar5]

I am also thinking of putting large ground brackets at 2 or 3 portals and lash a ratchet strap around the frame inside. This should make it super solid and the frame would not be able to lift at all. It shouldn't now as each leg is bolted down but I worry the push botton connections in parts of the tubular frame could detach in severe wind.

A few straps lashed over them would make that impossible to come undone and give even more anchorage to the ground.

They must have changed the design, every connection on mine is bolted

 

[JOEPRO]

They must have changed the design, every connection on mine is bolted

The roof Poles have bolts. As do the rails along the bottom. But the eaves tubes are push connection with a small button. I suppose if I really wanted to I could put short self drilling screws in to secure them but then I will be taking it down each summer so I am better keeping it as is which is actually VERY sturdy when bolted down and straps tensioned.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

What makes you think your neighbour did that? Were they all cut with a knife!? Crazy stuff.

No one has access to mine so should be OK! It has been battered with strong wind but doesn't appear to have any immediate effect anyway. The covers have part numbers and each can be ordered separately.

It was cut quite clearly with a knife, plus the stupid pricks had been whinging about it being there, and me working on the Landy for weeks. No other way it would have gone like that and no one else would touch it.

Horrible old bag and her weird son who came round to tell me I couldn’t legally work on a car on my own drive, and when I wouldn’t back down told me I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side. She was one of these “I’ve been here 60 years so I own the street” sort of people. Had an issue with everyone and everything despite her house looking like an absolute tip and the garden being full of rats. They could hop over the fence between our drives and be in its shade so couldn’t be seen on the cameras. Had no end of issues with them including oil all over the back tyre of my bike and rubble all over my car when the roofers they had in “threw it a bit far and missed the skip”

 

[MickeyW]

I have the same garage tent to keep my Range Rover in while I work on it. Mine too is chemfixed to the concrete and has withstood some pretty heavy winds.
The plan was to get the Rangey out of the wet and bad weather. In reality it has been so wet inside due to condensation and rain running under the tent. I built a single course of bricks around the inside, which has diverted most of the rainwater but the condensation is still significant. Every cleaned up piece of steel goes rusty straight away. I've thought about adding a vent panel in the ends, but have yet to figure out a way of doing this.

 

[bourbon]

Great to hear your experiences. Have you all left a review on their website?

 

[Robotstar5]

Great to hear your experiences. Have you all left a review on their website?

My model is discontinued so nothing to review.

 

[JOEPRO]

I have the same garage tent to keep my Range Rover in while I work on it. Mine too is chemfixed to the concrete and has withstood some pretty heavy winds.
The plan was to get the Rangey out of the wet and bad weather. In reality it has been so wet inside due to condensation and rain running under the tent. I built a single course of bricks around the inside, which has diverted most of the rainwater but the condensation is still significant. Every cleaned up piece of steel goes rusty straight away. I've thought about adding a vent panel in the ends, but have yet to figure out a way of doing this.

I found condensation to be an issue also. Especially in cold weather.

I have plugged in a dehumidifier I have for a few weeks now and it's bone dry inside on the roof etc. Not a drip anywhere. This is a cost to run though of course in electric. I dump out about a litres worth per day as it holds about 3L in the tank and I empty it twice a week.

I also have 2no clear tarps 3x3m which I am going to line the roof inside with. This means any frost / condensation on the underside of the outer skin won't be able to drip onto the car or me below. Any drips would be diverted down the sides.

But with a good dehumidifier running it is a dry, decent climate for a car.